Story of an Indian Girl

Chapter 2

"Karan why don't you take the bags 1 or 2 at a time and put them in the 2 guests rooms we've already got ready for bhai and bhabhi." Alisha didi said excitedly. 
"I'll help him" jiju muttered while picking up 2 bags while poor Karan bhai managed to hold one.

What the hell did she mean by already ready? I didn't even know they were coming and remembering Karan bhai's words neither did he. How long had they known they were coming? Why was he back after all these years? Why weren't we told they were going to be coming? 
All these questions were bearing a hole in my mind. 

"Priya and I will go get lunch ready while you'll can go and freshen up." Isha di's voice brought me back from all those questions. I just nodded with  smile. "I'll help you out too" cooed bhabhi. Before anyone could say anything I spoke up, "No bhabhi it's okay we'll manage. Di even if you want to rest its completely fine I'll get the lunch ready." 
After a lot of convincing bhabhi agreed to go and get some rest while Isha di and I went to the kitchen. We were working in complete silence when Karan bhai also joined us in the kitchen and sat on the counter next to me. He started eating from the vegetables I was dicing. "Bhai! Stop!" I said in an annoyed but playful tone. "Whats got my partner in crime so grumpy??" he asked teasingly as if he didn't know and wanted me to say it out in front of Isha di. "nothing I said through gritted teeth!" "come one you can tell me anything you know that right?" he said controlling himself from bursting out into laughter. I swear he's older than me but he behaves like he's younger than me majority of the times. I just felt like giving him a wack the lob side of his head! "Karan! Stop teasing her!" Isha di finally interfered. 
"okay okay" he laughed throwing his hands up in air. "Di what all will we be making for lunch?" I asked softly. "we'll be making bhai's favourite." she stopped there why did she assume I knew what that bastard liked. "which is?" I asked genuinely lost. "how can you not know what he likes!" teased bhai again! "because I don't fucking care what that fucker likes or doesn't" I semi yelled finally frustrated! 
By the time I could realise what I said I felt a stinging sensation on my cheek I had just received a tight slap from my sister.

Bhai also got down from the counter and stood silently visibly scared and upset. "Di that's not fair. You can't slap her for that you know that." Karan bhai spoke up. 
I didn't feel like looking up. My eyes welled with tears. I've not been slapped in years. Especially not for abusing. 
"you'll teach me how to raise her?" di asked in a loud voice but not loud enough for people outside the kitchen to hear. "No di but you know she hates him! That's not fair. You can't hit for that." he continued to argue. "Anyway Priya, for lunch there's Paneer butter masala, black dal and tadka dal as well as jeera rice and mixed vegetable raita." she said ignoring my brother. "Di we haven't soaked the pulses needed for the black dal" I said extremely softly while still looking down at my feet. "I have its over there in the microwave." she said calmly. I just nodded and went back to dicing the vegetables. Karan bhai sat back on the counter and whispered a soft sorry while rubbing my shoulder. I just nodded. A few minutes later bhai spoke again,"di?" "hm?" she replied without looking up or stopping to cook. 
"you really shouldn't have hit Priya it's not her fault." bhai said genuinely. Even though I held his hand in signal to stop him from talking. But ofcourse stubborn as he is he continued,"You know we both hate him". "I don't want this topic brought up again!" she said irritably. "but-" he went to speak when bhabhi entered the kitchen and he went silent. "you'll need any help?" Bhabhi asked di and myself. "No bhabhi we're almost done. Just a few minutes and lunch will be surved till then bhai why don't you take bhabhi and the kids around the house. It's been so long since their last visit." I said karan bhai nodded and took bhabhi out.